Euro 2012 Semi Finals: Most Important Player for Each Team to Advance

The field of Euro 2012 is now down to four teams. A few great plays can win a team a championship, but one mistake can cost them everything.

In the first semifinal, Spain will take on Portugal in a highly contested border war. After that, Germany will face Italy in a matchup of teams that are yet to lose in this tournament.

These squads did not get to this point by accident or luck. They feature some of the most talented players in the world and have been playing at a high level for weeks.

Having said that, certain players will need to step up in the next match for their teams to reach the final.

Spain: David Silva

There are so many talented players on Spain, but David Silva needs to be the key for the team to succeed in the next match.

The best way for the team to stop Cristiano Ronaldo is to not let him get the ball. Spain is better at controlling the ball than anyone else in the world, and Silva is one of the reasons for that.

However, the squad still needs to put the ball in the net to win. There are a bunch of scorers, but Silva is a great facilitator that can put his teammates in a position to score. He needs to get an assist or two against Portugal to guarantee a win.

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo

Who else would it be? Ronaldo is the most important player on the team due to his ability to score. He is one of the few players in the world that can face Spain's loaded roster and still say he's the best player on the field.

The forward has been successful in his last couple of contests, scoring three goals against the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. However, Spain will be a much tougher test.

Ronaldo needs to make sure he remains patient throughout the game and does not let his frustration get the best of him. Spain is known for their ability to control the ball, so the striker might get limited touches. He needs to make the most of his opportunities to get on the scoreboard and help his team into the next round.

Germany: Mesut Ozil

Bastian Schweinsteiger struggled in the last game with an injured ankle and is now questionable for the game against Italy. Fortunately, Ozil more than made up for it with two assists and three shots on goal. 

Germany needs someone to control the middle of the field and get the ball to Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski. Ozil is the guy who can do that.

He also must do his best to defend the talented offense of Italy. If he can neutralize veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo, it will go a long way in helping his team advance.

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon

The team has great forwards in Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano to go along with midfielder Andrea Pirlo, but Buffon is the reason that Italy is still playing in this tournament.

The goalkeeper is one of the best in the world at his position, and has played that way so far, allowing only two goals in four matches. In the most recent match, he helped Italy beat England on penalty kicks.

Germany has had the most dominant offense in Euro 2012, and Buffon will need to continue his great play to keep the opponent off the board as Italy attempt to pull the upset.